There is a great demand for a listening ear and volunteers at the Listening Line have their hands full. In 2022, the Listening Line received 611.658 calls. To be able to answer all calls, the Listening Line is urgently looking for new volunteers. The organization announces this on its own website.

 

“Last year we received a record number of calls. We notice that more and more people are seeking contact because they need recognition, support, comfort or a good conversation,” says Leo Noordegraaf, director of the Listening Line. 

It is striking that many conversations are about mental health, both on the telephone and on the mail and chat that the Listening Line also offers. “Last year there were many people who needed a listening ear. Because of loneliness, but also with concerns about social issues that are currently under discussion. Think, for example, of the war in Ukraine or the increasing cost of living. Just by listening, trained volunteers help temporarily relieve worry, pain and sadness. We therefore hope that more people will want to give some warmth to people who need it in this way,” says Noordegraaf.

 Alternating conversations

“The topics of conversation are very different,” says volunteer Marleen. “People want to talk about loneliness, relationship problems, anxiety, insomnia or insecurity. I am not there to solve problems, but I can listen and support. Almost everyone occasionally needs to share his or her story with someone else. A good conversation provides support, warmth and light. As a volunteer, I have experienced that you get a lot of gratitude back by being there for someone else for half a day a week.”

The Listening Line is a unique organization with a unique mission: offering a listening ear to anyone who needs it, when they need it. That is why the Listening Line can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on telephone number 088 0767 000. Chatting or e-mailing is also possible via deluisterlijn.nl. An important factor in the Listening Line is the anonymity of the conversation partners. The volunteers themselves also remain anonymous in a conversation.

Volunteers

As a volunteer you can easily work from home or at one of the 28 locations throughout the country. You can schedule your own services and receive extensive training in professional listening skills. More information about this special volunteer work can be found at delistenline.nl.

Human Resources